Stevia farming in Kenya has emerged as a promising agricultural venture, driven by the global demand for natural sweeteners. Stevia, a plant known for its intensely sweet leaves, has captured the attention of both small-scale and commercial farmers in the country. The sweetener extracted from stevia leaves is non-caloric, making it an attractive alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners, particularly in health-conscious markets.

Stevia Farming in Kenya: The Current State of Stevia Farming in Kenya

Growth and Expansion

Over the past decade, the stevia industry in Kenya has seen significant growth. The Kenyan government, recognizing the potential of stevia farming, has been supportive, encouraging farmers to diversify into high-value crops. The favorable climatic conditions in various parts of Kenya, such as the Rift Valley and Central Kenya, have provided an ideal environment for stevia cultivation.

According to a recent report by the Ministry of Agriculture, the area under stevia cultivation has expanded to approximately 3,000 hectares. This expansion is largely attributed to increased awareness among farmers and the potential for high returns.

Stevia farming has proven to be economically viable for many farmers. The initial cost of setting up a stevia farm, which includes seeds or seedlings, land preparation, and irrigation systems, is estimated to be between Ksh 50,000 to Ksh 100,000 per acre. However, once established, stevia plants can be harvested multiple times a year, providing a steady income stream.

PureCircle, a company promoting commercial stevia farming, collects an impressive average of 20,000 tonnes of stevia leaves monthly from over 2,000 Kenyan farmers, primarily concentrated in the high-altitude regions of Kericho, Nandi, Nakuru, and Laikipia counties. These areas provide the ideal sub-tropical climate that the stevia plant thrives in. The production is expected to increase as more regions embrace this lucrative crop. On average, a kilogram of dried stevia leaves can earn farmers between 200-300 Kenyan shillings (Ksh). With multiple harvests possible per year from a single plant that thrives for over seven years, the potential for income generation is significant.

Economic Viability of stevia farming in Kenya

Stevia farming has proven to be economically viable for many farmers. The initial cost of setting up a stevia farm, which includes seeds or seedlings, land preparation, and irrigation systems, is estimated to be between Ksh 50,000 to Ksh 100,000 per acre. However, once established, stevia plants can be harvested multiple times a year, providing a steady income stream.

The profitability of stevia farming is underscored by the current market prices. Fresh stevia leaves fetch between Ksh 80 to Ksh 120 per kilogram, depending on quality and market demand. Dried leaves, which are more concentrated, can sell for as high as Ksh 300 per kilogram. This pricing structure offers farmers a lucrative return on their investment, especially when compared to traditional crops like maize or beans.

Challenges and Opportunities on stevia farming in Kenya

Despite the promising outlook, stevia farmers in Kenya face several challenges. Key among them is the lack of adequate processing facilities. Currently, most stevia leaves are exported in their raw form, which limits the potential for value addition. To address this, there have been calls for the establishment of more local processing plants that can extract steviol glycosides, the sweet compounds in stevia leaves.

Another challenge is the limited access to high-quality planting materials. Some farmers have reported difficulties in sourcing certified stevia seedlings, which affects the overall yield and quality of the harvest. Additionally, stevia farming requires specific agronomic practices that are not yet widely known among Kenyan farmers. Training and extension services are crucial to bridge this knowledge gap.

Success Story: Farmers get into the sweet life of growing stevia

Mr Kim Martins, a pioneer stevia farmer in Kericho, said he planted the crop on a 15-acre farm in 2009 and has never regretted it. He took up the idea from PureCircle, a company that promotes commercial farming of stevia.

“What was just a pilot project has turned into a great success. I make an average of Sh58,000 every month, which is way higher than the price of tea that I used to rely on,” said Mr Martins, who is also a manager of Chesumot family tea estate.

He harvests five tonnes of stevia per acre every year from which he earns Sh105 a kilo. He has been contracted to supply cuttings for planting to new regions that have been certified to be suitable for the crop by the National Environmental Management Authority and the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service.

In December last year, Mr Martins said he supplied 200 kilogrammes of cutting to farmers in Meru and 364 kilogrammes to others in Bungoma in partnership with PureCircle. Each kilo has an average of 370 cutting and goes for Sh400.

“Stevia is the highest paying crop. However, it is not for the lazy as it requires constant weeding,” he said.

Mr Martins believes that any crop with proven medicinal effect is good for future industries as more people become mindful of their health and what they consume.

“This is why I also pioneered the planting of the highly medicinal purple tea clones — TRFK 430/90 and TRFK 371/3 — when they were released in 2011,” he said.

Once harvested, stevia is dried in raised, sheltered wire mesh for a week before being weighed and surrendered to the PureCircle company.

The commodity is then transported to Mombasa port for shipping to China, where the sweetener is extracted before final processing is done in Malaysia.

In a phone interview with Money, PureCircle Kenya general manager Priyanko Chatterjee said farmers were initially slow to start planting the crop.

“In Kericho, for instance, farmers found it difficult to ditch tea despite its compromising market prices. But they are now dividing their farms to create space for stevia,” he noted.

PureCircle currently collects an average of 20,000 tonnes of stevia leaves monthly, from over 2,000 farmers who have gradually joined the business.

Production, he said, is expected to increase as new regions begin to harvest the sweetener. Farmers in about nine counties are now tending stevia.

Chatterjee pointed out that the demand for the crop is growing in Paraguay and Brazil, where the best and most priced stevia is grown and used to sweeten food, treat burns and stomach complications, and sometimes as a contraceptive.

“It is also used in place of sugar for patients suffering from acute diabetes. Stevia is preferred since it is 200 times sweeter than sugar and has no calories or carbohydrates,” he stated.

However, he says that the company is facing challenges in scaling up production to the desired level since the outgrower model used is still slow. This, he added, may delay the setting up of a factory in Kenya.

Stevia Factory

“A local stevia factory may be due in approximately four to five years, as production by then will have clocked the 10,000 tonnes of leaves per year required,” said Mr Chatterjee.

In Africa, Kenya is among the pioneer counties to grow the crop. The others are Rwanda and the Central African Republic.

Experts predict that the establishment of the stevia agro-based industry in Kenya could likely spell doom for the sugar industry.

Future Prospects

The future of stevia farming in Kenya looks bright, with several initiatives underway to boost the industry. According to Farmers Trend, a leading agricultural advisory platform, the government and private sector are collaborating to improve the stevia value chain. Efforts include the introduction of better-yielding stevia varieties, the establishment of farmer cooperatives, and the provision of financial support to farmers.

Furthermore, there is a growing interest from international investors who see Kenya as a potential hub for stevia production in Africa. These investors are keen to set up processing plants and create linkages with global markets, which would enhance the value addition process and increase the profitability for local farmers.

In conclusion, stevia farming in Kenya presents a promising opportunity for diversification and economic growth. With supportive policies, improved agronomic practices, and investment in processing facilities, the stevia industry in Kenya is poised for significant advancement. As more farmers embrace this high-value crop, stevia could very well become a staple in Kenya’s agricultural landscape, contributing to the livelihoods of thousands of farmers across the country.

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